Should I take my SLR?

[Independence1776]

I'm going to Disney in a few weeks, and I'm curious if I should take it with. I'm used to my point-and-shoot. I took an Intro to Photography class this semester, but didn't really learn how to use my dad's old SLR camera. (I do know how to develop film and make prints, though. ) The professor was rather aghast that I chose to use film instead of digital (which I despise), and the class as a whole didn't spend much time learning how to take photos at all. I do know the relationship between aperature and shutter speed, but that's about it.

The problems: I don't have a tripod because it broke, and I don't take enough photos to justify getting another one (and I wouldn't take it to Disney anyways). The camera is heavy, especially if I'm going to be carrying it all day. I don't have a zoom lens, which I would love to have. I can't focus my camera well or fast (it can take me a couple minutes for one shot). Finally, I don't really know how to use the meter correctly. I'm constantly overexposing my film because I can't read it.

The reason to take it: great photographs.

If I do take it, I'll probably have it on either automatic or Aperature priority. But I'd love to know how to take better manual pictures. So, I'm asking you knowledgable folks: should I take it?

 

[Master Mason]

Yes

 

[ukcatfan]

WDW is one of the main reasons I bought a DSLR. If you dislike digital, you might want to research DSLRs as they act much different than digital p&s cameras. I do not know your specific dislikes, but many digital shortcomings are solved with a DSLR. Plus, your old lenses might still work. What brand is the SLR and how old is it?

Kevin

 

[Jeanne B]

Definitely take it but also bring your p&s as a back up.

 

[Independence1776]

WDW is one of the main reasons I bought a DSLR. If you dislike digital, you might want to research DSLRs as they act much different than digital p&s cameras. I do not know your specific dislikes, but many digital shortcomings are solved with a DSLR. Plus, your old lenses might still work. What brand is the SLR and how old is it?

Kevin

I don't like digital because I think the photo quality is worse than film. Second, I like being able to look at photos without turning on my computer. Third, due to the gambits being different from computer screen to printer, I don't like printed digital photos because the colors and such never look as good.

The SLR's a Canon and about thirty years old. I don't really know the age, though, as the camera used to belong to an uncle before he gave it to my dad.

And I was planning on taking my p&s no matter what, because it has zoom.

 

[handicap18]

I don't like digital because I think the photo quality is worse than film. Second, I like being able to look at photos without turning on my computer. Third, due to the gambits being different from computer screen to printer, I don't like printed digital photos because the colors and such never look as good.

The SLR's a Canon and about thirty years old. I don't really know the age, though, as the camera used to belong to an uncle before he gave it to my dad.

And I was planning on taking my p&s no matter what, because it has zoom.

I would bring along the slr. Buy yourself some B&W film and take some different type of photos. Frountierland would be great for that.

Also, you don't need a computer to view digital pictures. Just consider the media card as film. Take it to what ever place you would take your film to be developed and they can print the pictures out right there for you in about an hour.

With the more recent digital camera's many people feel the oposite. Personally I think I get better images from my dSLR than I did with my film slr. Digital sensors have come a long way and the quality is great and is getting better. Also you can see what the pic will look like right away and if it doesn't look good delete it and take another.

Either way, have fun at Disney!

 

[deletedpenguin]

Most definitely! I just got back from Disneyland with my SLR and would have regretted not taking here. Here are some of my pics.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1441919

Make sure you've got a good pack though, otherwise it'll weigh on you a bit. I had an extra telephoto (which I didn't use once) and hotshoe flash etc.

 

[fitzperry]

I agree with the others to take both cameras. Leave the slr in your hotel or in a locker when you don't want to lug it around, but I bet you'll be glad to have it at least part of the time.

I also wanted to touch on these two points.

I don't like digital because I think the photo quality is worse than film. . . . Third, due to the gambits being different from computer screen to printer, I don't like printed digital photos because the colors and such never look as good.

There are others who are far better qualified than I to address the merits of film vs. digital. However, the dslr's on the market today certainly come darn close to film in terms of IQ, and for the vast majority of amateur photographers the numerous other advantages of shooting digital far outweigh any slight loss in quality. Also the difference you're seeing between the computer and the print is likely due to an uncalibrated monitor. If you calibrate your monitor you'll get much better results. You might want to give digital another chance.

Have a great trip!

 

[YEKCIM]

i1776:

I'm a convert from film to digital, and would *never* go back, for a number of reasons, the primary one being what I call, "the freedom to shoot". With digital, there is of course, no film and processing to pay for, so once you have your "fixed" equipment cost behind you, the cost to shoot unlimited photos is, for all intents and purposes, zero.

As a result, I feel like my photos are, in large part, *better*. Why? Because I can (and do) shoot hundreds of photos in a day (300+ most WDW park days). I have found that I get many more "keepers" that way.

Let me also add that in film days I shot transparencies almost exclusively and, from what I've read, the dynamic range of a digital camera image sensor is very similar to transparency film, meaning that sometimes detail is lost in either shadows or hightlights, or both. Color print film, by comparison, has a wider dynamic range and is not as prone to those issues as transparencies or digital images. If you are shooting print film, that could be part of your dissatisfaction with digital.

Beyond that discussion, though, if you don't mind lugging the equipment around, I'd say bring 'em both. It will give you some extra flexibility and the ability to, say, shoot one type film in one camera and another type in the other. Kyle had a good suggestion about B/W film, which you could shoot in the SLR, while usign the PnS for color. Or, use a faster film (400 or 800) in the SLR and maybe 100 or 200 in the PnS, for differing shooting environments.

Either way, go have a good time, and bring back some priceless pictures, of one of the biggest "photo op's" in the world!

~YEKCIM

 

[Groucho]

I brought both my digital SLR and my film SLR last time - my film SLR is even 100% manual, not even an aperture priority mode. I've taken the film SLR on trips in the '90s, too, back when there wasn't much of a choice.

I think your feelings on the quality of digital are probably due to using point-n-shoot cameras. They have tiny little sensors that can't hope to capture a photo like a piece of 35mm film can, however, DSLRs have much larger sensors and can get much closer to film quality. In some ways, they may even be better. And prints are virtually the same cost for film vs digital; you can easily find 19 cent prints, which works out to about $4.50 for 24 prints, pretty similar to what you'd pay to get your film developed. Of course, you also have the ability to adjust white balance, color tone, sharpness, etc afterwards, as well as more easily play around to get the correct exposure and only print the photos that you want. And since memory cards are cheap, you can take far more photos with no worries about having to reload the film, or carry around film rolls, etc, etc. Oh, and switch ISO at will... and you'll probably find less noise at ISO 1600 with your DSLR than you will find grain with ISO 1600 film.

Film is still better for pure black and white work, but for color... DSLRs are hard to beat.

I would say, though, you'll want to try to learn the camera a little more - better to experiment and improve your skills before your vacation than during or after!

 

[Independence1776]

Thanks for all your advice. I'll probably end up taking it. As for case, it'll be just the camera and normal lens. I don't know how to use any of the extras that Dad has, and I figure Disney isn't the time to learn. (Besides, Dad's offered to carry the camera when I'm not.)

As for buying a dSLR, it isn't possible. I graduate college in a couple of days, and I'm hoping to go to grad school. I don't have the money, especially when I have a perfectly fine SLR already.

I'll be using Kodak color film, ISO 200 or 400. I had to use B&W for my class because we had to develop it ourselves, and discovered that a lot of what I photograph needs color to work right (sunsets, something brightly colored against a dark background, etc.).

And I do plan on having a good trip! Star Wars Weekends...

 

[Groucho]

Enjoy SW Weekends! Some day, maybe I'll make it down for that...

Also enjoy practicing with the SLR, nearly all experience you get with it will transfer over when you are in a position to do to a DSLR.

 

[photo_chick]

I'll be using Kodak color film, ISO 200 or 400. I had to use B&W for my class because we had to develop it ourselves, and discovered that a lot of what I photograph needs color to work right (sunsets, something brightly colored against a dark background, etc.).

And I do plan on having a good trip! Star Wars Weekends...

Consider taking some slide film along to play with. I like it becasue the colors are so vibrant and it seems to have more range than color negative film. Besides, what is more fun than seeing your work projected up on the wall larger than life? I liberated my Dad's slide projector from the closet a few years ago and I am so glad I did! And you can get prints made form slides, so don't let that scare you off from it.

 

[cryssi]

I've always thought that Fuji film had better color than kodak, jmo...

I haven't shot film in years! I actually bought some film for the med. format camera, but am too lazy to deal with it, lol.